Petition

As your alumni, we would like to see Messiah College continue to nurture students and function as a place of reconciliation, compassion, and true community. Frankly, we are disappointed.

The recent articles about harassment on campus, both in the campus newspaper and in the local news, are alarming. We are disheartened and angered by these stories of abuse, threats, and exclusion.

Messiah College can do better than this. Harassment of any sort reflects poorly on the campus. We understand that the college cannot control the actions of each individual student. Nevertheless, we have seen many instances where Messiah College avoids acting in compassion toward its LGBTQ students and alumni, consequently fostering an unsafe and noninclusive campus climate.

Vague and condescending discussions of “hating the sin and loving the sinner” can lead to students feeling dehumanized and further marginalized. Reluctance to clarify the school’s position can lead to LGBTQ students being disciplined for behavior the school accepts from its straight students. We understand the college’s resistance to adopting a fully inclusive policy, for fear of angering donors, partner institutions, and leaders. We understand the hesitance to step on toes. Nevertheless, while Messiah College spends years drafting and clarifying its position, LGBTQ students continue to suffer.

If showing love to all students at Messiah College, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, involves stepping on toes, it’s time to step on toes. It’s time to fully affirm and support all students. It’s time to not only foster authentic dialogue, but to create an environment that promotes inclusion and demonstrates a radical commitment to compassion.

Here’s what we would like to see Messiah College do:

A) Eliminate the clause in the Community Covenant that forbids “homosexual behavior.” By placing further restrictions on students who identify as LGBTQ than on other students, students are not only denied part of their humanity, but divisions are created in the community the college so actively works to create.

B) Make the college a truly safe space for LGBTQ students. Take proactive steps to prevent harassment, threats, and bullying, instead of merely reacting to these occurrences. The first step here is to flesh out the definition of “Reconciliation” in the Community Covenant to list sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, along with “race, class, age, gender, religion, and ethnicity,” which are already included, and to then train staff to address anti-LGBTQ language and behavior in timely and culturally competent ways.

Through passivity and hesitance, Messiah College is hurting some of the most vulnerable students in its community. As the undersigned alumni, we sincerely hope that the college moves in the right direction to truly serve all of its students and create a compassionate, inclusive community.

Note that our process for updating the list below is manual, and your name will not appear immediately upon submission. As of the most recent update, our current total is 550 names. If you filled out our petition but do not see your name below, please contact us at inclusivealumni@gmail.com.